Tuner replacement for old mando

[reindoggy]

Hi, everyone!

I have an old(at least 80 yrs), no-name, German(I think) bent-top mando with a pressed design on the back of the headstock. It has tuners that are built into the head and are capped on the front with ebony "washers" which are center-drilled for the tuner shafts. Unfortunately, one tuner doesn't work and I am missing one ebony washer and one ebony tuner knob. Does anyone know a source to replace the missing or broken parts? This is a fairly well abused instrument and I am not terribly concerned with appearance, so if someone has put replacement tuners on a mando like this, could you give me some recommendations and tips? I'd like to get her back in service as a travel/back-up mando.

I'm not a luthier, but I can do some woodworking and carving. (Heck, I don't even know the difference between a pick and a plectrum!) So, simple, idiot-proof, low-tech language (e.g. Grab a hammer.)would be best.

Thanks in advance!

Reinal

Well i dont know any specifics but go on to www.elderly.com .. I was flipping through there catalog and i found some nice ones. That is if your looking for just any old tuner. Do you want it to be for your exact mando? Or do you not care?

[reindoggy]

Well, i'm not sure. I think if I remove the existing tuners, I'll need to fill in some big holes on the headstock. Also, if I put standard tuners on it, they would cover the kinda cool pressed wood on the back of the head. That may be unavoidable.

As a player, I know I won't be too happy with some sticky, cheap tuners, even on a beater mando, but I really don't know how to judge which are good ones unless I use them. At present I'm looking for the best solution, and then I'll compromise to accomodate my finances and ability to repair the instrument.

Take a look here. http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Mandolin.html

They have some nice ones. Why dont you order the catalog, it probably shows other options.

[Martin Jonas]

Reindoggy: Can you post a picture? Some old German mandolins use open tuners, typically with slotted headstocks, and these can probably be replaced with modern Schaller tuners for slotted headstocks (listed in catalogues as "Embergher" style). If you have closed tuners, and your description sounds as if you might, then you're effectively on your own. Replacements tuners must come from vintage salvage parts, so roam Ebay Germany for cheap basket cases with similar tuners. This is for replacing the entire tuner. You may be able to just replace the broken/missing knob and bushings, provided that they are reasonably close in size to modern parts. Depending on your precise tuner design, replacing these parts may be difficult or straightforward. Browse the Stew-Mac catalogue or other luthier supplies and try a few different plausible alternatives -- knobs and bushings are relatively cheap, so order a few different ones at a time to minimise shipping and handling.

Martin

[reindoggy]

Martin-

I appreciate the info! I believe that I do have closed tuners. Any idea how to remove them? Will the knob stem unscrew from the tuner mechanism and allow the tuner to be extracted? If I can get them out, without further damage, I might be able to disassemble them and unbend or unburr the problem areas.

Thanks for any and all tips if anyone has wrestled with this problem and won.

Reinal

[John Bertotti]

There is a pricey option. There is a company that will custom make tuners or parts to your specs. You would probably have to send them to them though. Someone here turned me on to them but I seem to have lost the link if anyone has it please post it. I'll keep looking. John http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif


Found it, this is there home page search around or send them an email. Price I think is in pounds so it is expensive. John
Rodgers (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/r.rodgers/RTM/Index.htm)

[reindoggy]

John-

Thanks for the link. Those are some really innovative tuners. If I was building my own instrument, I'd certainly consider them. Unfortunately, they cost more than my mandois worth.

Reinal

[bigbike4]

Try also www.fqms.com (first Quality music source). They have quite a bit of stuff for stringed instruments. I also second the motion for finding an old donor instrument. Keep an eye on ebay auctions as old tuners frequently come up in both the banjo and mandolin areas. (I just ran across one for mandos in the banjo section, but clearly the stuff was mando only),

[Jim Garber]

Two eBay dealers in Germany might have parts lying around. Franksmusic and Stringwalker. The first often posts parts. There are a few others. trebleclef528 who posts often here deals in german instruments. perhaps he has a clue.

Jim